Last week, I talked about the best 6 ways to prep your high school senior for writing College Supplemental Essays:
- Do your research (don’t limit it to the major you think you want)
- Express “some interest” in a major versus choosing undecided
- Delve into how a college program matches your interests
- Demonstrate you GET the school’s “culture”
- Show that you value what makes this school unique
- When something genuinely excites you, get writing!
Today, I’m happy to share 6 pitfalls to avoid when writing those Supplemental Essay:
- Be different— not cliche or trite. Admissions reads thousands of essays
- “I’m excited to be on an urban campus”— does this represent your authentic self?
- Avoid repetition— if you already said it elsewhere in your app, don’t repeat
- Know the school— do not write about city life in a Middlebury College application
- Avoid picking a topic that’s too big— one life experience at a time
- If anywhere on that application you see the word “optional”— do not take that hall pass!
For Moms who don’t need Write Coach to “take this off my plate,” as one mother exclaimed, I offer you some free advice. The 6 most important things to ask of your student:
- Say something they have never heard
- Demonstrate your potential
- Use your unique voice
- Incorporate your sense of humor
- Show, don’t tell by being descriptive
- Be vulnerable, without TMI
Keep in mind, these critical college essays are sometimes considered optional, but are truly only optional if you don’t want to get into that particular college. I can help your student with selecting the right prompt that will convey their potential and how they best fit into the college of their choice. The coach is in!
